St. John Neumann
Catholic Church

January 5th is the feast of St. John Nepomucene Neumann!

5:30 pm Mass and Refreshments

John was born March 28, 1811 in what is now the Czech Republic. Even at a young age he was a talented student and it was no surprise that he was accepted into seminary despite great competition. When it was time for John to be ordained his bishop died and all ordinations were canceled. Unwilling to give up his vocation he traveled to New York where the diocese was in dire need of priests. He was soon ordained and sent to Williamsville, NY where he tended to the spiritual needs of over a hundred German speaking families. Not satisfied with helping just local Catholics, Fr. Neumann started saying Masses in the frontier towns, traveling the countryside with candles and a chalice on his back.

He soon gained attention from his superiors because of his tireless dedication and ability to speak eight languages. News of this little priest eventually reached Pope Pius IX and he was appointed bishop of Philadelphia, serving 170,000 Catholics. In his new position Bishop Neumann was able to continue his work helping those in need, but on a much larger scale. He was the first person to organize a Catholic school system and built 100 new schools in just eight years. He also built Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, numerous hospitals, churches, orphanages, and a seminary.

In 1860, he died of a stroke while walking down the street. In 1977 he was canonized by Pope Paul VI and his incorrupt body is displayed in a glass altar in the lower church of St Peter the Apostle.